Toronto’s public orchard is a go
Toronto’s public orchard is a go
The city is about to get its first public orchard. Council approved the planting of 14 fruit trees (pear, Japanese plum, cherry) and several flowering and shade trees (shagbark hickory, serviceberry and pawpaw), according to an e-mail sent by Ward 21 councillor Joe Mihevc to residents this morning. In response to neighbourhood concerns that the orchard will result in rotten fruit everywhere or an increase of wild animals, Mihevc reduced the number of trees from the original 40 to 27. The fruit trees will be planted immediately at Ben Nobleman Park across from Eglinton West subway station.
Actually, Ben Nobleman Park is not the first orchard, the residents of Oakvale Avenue planted 15 five years ago of which about 10 survived and gave fruit for the last two years. This year we will be planting between 25 t0 50 more, including berries and nut trees on the site of an old pear orchard off Greenwood Avenue in the east end.
Visit http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/oakvalegreen to find out more about us. We are engaging local school children to assist with the husbandry of the orchard and our members come from far and near.
Best
Nicholas
416 816 1462